Chief Accountant

Position: Chief Accountant Department: Finance & Accounting Property: Radisson Beach Resort Palm Jumeirah, DubaiPosition OverviewWe are seeking an experienced and detail-oriented Chief Accountant to join the Finance team at Radisson Beach Resort Palm Jumeirah. The Chief Accountant will be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day accounting operations of the hotel, ensuring accurate financial reporting, strong internal controls, timely month-end closing, and compliance with UAE statutory and hotel financial policies.The ideal candidate should have strong UAE hospitality/hotel accounting experience, excellent knowledge of hotel finance operations, and hands-on experience with Opera PMS, POS systems, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Income Audit, General Ledger, Cost Control and financial reporting.Key Responsibilities1. General AccountingManage and supervise the day-to-day accounting activities of the hotel.Maintain accurate and complete accounting records in accordance with company and hotel policies.Review and post journal entries, accruals, provisions, prepayments and adjustments.Monitor General Ledger accounts and ensure all balances are properly reconciled.Ensure proper accounting treatment and classification of all financial transactions.Review the trial balance and investigate unusual or outstanding balances.Maintain the hotel chart of accounts and ensure correct account coding.2. Month-End & Year-End ClosingLead the monthly financial closing process within the required deadlines.Prepare and review month-end journals, accruals, provisions and reconciliations.Ensure all revenue, expenses and liabilities are recorded in the correct accounting period.Prepare schedules and supporting documents for month-end reporting.Assist in annual budgeting, forecasting and year-end closing activities.Coordinate with the Director of Finance during monthly and annual financial reporting.3. Hotel Revenue & Income AuditReview daily hotel revenue generated from rooms, F&B, banquets, events and other operating departments.Review daily revenue reports from Opera PMS and POS systems.Ensure all revenue is accurately captured, reconciled and posted.Review the Daily Revenue Report and investigate discrepancies.Coordinate with the Income Auditor and Front Office/F&B teams regarding revenue variances.Ensure cash, credit card, city ledger and other payment transactions are properly reconciled.4. Accounts ReceivableSupervise Accounts Receivable activities and ensure timely collection of outstanding balances.Review guest and company ledger balances.Monitor credit accounts and follow up on overdue receivables.Ensure proper posting and reconciliation of credit card and city ledger transactions.Review AR ageing reports and highlight long-outstanding balances to management.Coordinate with Sales, Reservations and Front Office teams regarding credit-related issues.5. Accounts PayableReview supplier invoices, payment requests and supporting documentation.Ensure invoices are properly approved, coded and recorded.Monitor supplier balances and AP ageing.Review payment runs and ensure payments are processed accurately and on time.Reconcile supplier statements and resolve discrepancies.Ensure compliance with approved purchasing and payment procedures.6. Bank & Balance Sheet ReconciliationPrepare and review monthly bank reconciliations.Reconcile balance sheet accounts and investigate discrepancies.Monitor outstanding cheques, deposits, transfers and other reconciling items.Maintain proper supporting documentation for all reconciliations.7. Financial ReportingPrepare accurate monthly financial statements and management reports.Assist in preparation of hotel financial reports in accordance with corporate standards.Provide financial analysis and explanations for significant variances.Prepare departmental expense and revenue analysis.Support the Director of Finance with financial information required for management decisions.8. Budgeting & ForecastingAssist in preparation of the annual hotel budget.Support monthly forecasting and reforecasting activities.Monitor actual performance against budget and forecast.Analyze revenue, payroll and operating expense variances.Provide recommendations to improve financial performance and cost efficiency.9. VAT & UAE ComplianceEnsure accounting records and transactions comply with UAE VAT requirements.Assist with VAT calculations, reconciliations and supporting documentation.Coordinate with external auditors and tax consultants when required.Ensure compliance with UAE statutory accounting and reporting requirements.Maintain proper records for audit and tax purposes.10. Internal Controls & AuditMaintain strong financial controls across all hotel departments.Ensure compliance with hotel policies, procedures and corporate finance standards.Identify control weaknesses and recommend corrective actions.Coordinate internal and external audit requirements.Prepare audit schedules and supporting documents.Follow up on audit observations and ensure timely implementation of corrective actions.Key Qualifications & RequirementsBachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance or a related field.5–8+ years of accounting experience, preferably within a hotel or resort environment.Minimum 3 years of UAE hospitality/hotel accounting experience is preferred.Strong knowledge of hotel accounting operations.Hands-on experience with Opera PMS and hotel POS systems is highly desirable.Strong knowledge of General Ledger, Income Audit, AP, AR, bank reconciliation and month-end closing.Good knowledge of UAE VAT and statutory requirements.Experience with budgeting, forecasting and financial analysis.Previous supervisory or team leadership experience is required.Ability to work under pressure and meet strict financial reporting deadlines.